LinuxTag 2007 Workshop

LinuxBIOS developers walk through how to configure and compile a LinuxBIOS that can be used to boot a Linux system on your VIA EPIA, EPIA-M or EPIA-MII from a boot server on the network, from a local IDE device or from a CompactFlash card. (CF is only available on EPIA-MII but with an adapter the CF card works exactly like an IDE device)

The workshop teaches attendees how to

Pushpin flash

configure and build EtherBoot for their EPIA board to boot from network

configure and build LinuxBIOS with VGA support and the EtherBoot payload

hotswap flash chips

flash the new LinuxBIOS to an empty flash chip in Linux

configure and build FILO for their EPIA board to boot from IDE or CF

finally rebuild LinuxBIOS using FILO as payload instead of EtherBoot

optional: configure a boot server

(the presenter will run a boot server for those who can only bring their EPIA board)

Attendees should bring the following to the workshop

an EPIA, EPIA-M or EPIA-MII board with power supply, keyboard and monitor or serial console

an x86 Linux system with gcc 4.x (this can be either on the EPIA board or on a separate system)

if you bring two systems (e.g. EPIA+laptop), remember to bring a crossover network cable

one straight networking cable for each system

one spare flash chip for the EPIA board or EUR 6 to purchase a pushpin flashchip

Attendees are expected to have experience with Linux system administration, open source software compilation and installation, and boot loaders.